Goddard Projects Directory

The search for U produced 3 results out of 249 records UARS Launch Date: 09/12/1991 As the first major element in NASA's Earth Science Enterprise (formerly Mission to Planet Earth), the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) will carry out the first systematic, comprehensive study of the stratosphere and furnish important new data on the mesosphere and thermosphere. The goal of upper atmosphere research is to understand the chemistry, dynamics, and energy balance above the troposphere as well as the coupling between these processes and between atmosphere regions. This implies an understanding of the mechanisms that control upper atmosphere structure and variability, as well as an understanding of how the upper atmosphere responds to natural and man-made causes. Together, these will help define the role of the upper atmosphere in climate and climate variability. The UARS platform provides simultaneous, coordinated measurements of atmospheric internal structure (trace constituents, physical dynamics, radiative emission, thermal structure, density) and measurements of the external influences acting upon the upper atmosphere (solar radiation, tropospheric conditions, electric fields). In addition, the combination of orbit and instrument design will provide nearly global coverage. The UARS mission objectives include the study of upper atmosphere energy input and loss, upper atmosphere global photochemistry, upper atmosphere global photochemistry, upper atmosphere dynamics, coupling among these processes, and the coupling between the upper and lower atmosphere. The UARS system includes both the flight observatory and ground based elements consisting of both mission unique and institutional elements. The institutional elements can be further broken down into communications elements on the one hand, and the ground system elements needed to support flight operations and data capture on the other. Other Name(s):  Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite |  GSFC Link  |  Project Information  |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |  Additional URL 2  |  Image Gallery  |   UK-4 Launch Date: 12/11/1971 Study the interactions between plasma and charged particle streams in the atmosphere Other Name(s):  United Kingdom Research Satellite 4, Ariel 4 |  NSSDC Link  |  Additional URL 1  |   UK-5 Launch Date: 10/15/1974 Measure the spectrum, polarization and pulsar features of non-solar X-ray sources. Other Name(s):  Ariel 5, United Kingdom 5 |  NSSDC Link  |